He sang in the languages of his youth, Swahili and Acholi, the languages of the lost country, the 'clear green land' of Uganda, and he also sang in English and French.
Oryema earned his international reputation on the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He had collaborated with Peter Gabriel and others, and was backed by French musicians including Jean-Pierre Alarcen (guitar) and Patrick Buchmann (drums, percussion, backing vocals), touring with WOMAD in Australia, the USA, Japan, Brasil and Europe. In 1994 the band performed at Woodstock 94 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the legendary festival.
Gabriel's record label, Real World, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, before his move to Sony International, a label established in France, where Oryema had lived since his exile.
In July 2005, he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall, and with 1 Giant Leap at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
Discography
Exile (1990)
Beat the Border (1993)
Night to Night (1996)
Spirit (2000)
The Odysseus/Best Of (2002)
Words (2004)
From The Heart (Released on Long Tale Recordings) (2010)
Listening Wind
Geoffrey Oryema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mojique thinks of days before Americans came
He sees the foreigners in growing numbers
He sees the foreigners in fancy houses
He thinks of days that he can still remember...now.
Mojique holds a package in his quivering hands
Mojique sends the package to the American man
Softly he glides along the streets and alleys
He feels the time is surely now or never...more.
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
The dust in my head
The dust in my head
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
(Come to)
Drive them away
Drive them away.
Mojique buys equipment in the market place
Mojique plants devices in the free trade zone
He feels the wind is lifting up his people
He calls the wind to guide him on his mission
He knows his friend the wind is always standing...by.
Mojique smells the wind that comes from far away
Mojique waits for news in a quiet place
He feels the presence of the wind around him
He feels the power of the past behind him
He has the knowledge of the wind to guide him...on.
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
The dust in my head
The dust in my head
The wind in my heart
The wind in my heart
(Come to)
Drive them away
Drive them away.
The song "Listening Wind" by Geoffrey Oryema is a haunting narration of the thoughts of a Native American Mojique, who watches helplessly as his village is taken over by foreigners. He remembers the days before the Americans came and sees the growing numbers of foreigners in beautiful houses. The lyrics also mention Mojique's constant interaction with the wind, which is allegorical of his intuition, his conscience, and his ally in his battle against the foreign invaders. The song highlights the struggle of the Native Americans to preserve their identity and way of life in the face of foreign colonization.
Mojique is portrayed as an active participant in this battle. He buys equipment in the market place and plants devices in the free trade zone. He knows that the wind is lifting up his people and calls to it to guide him on his mission. The wind is his constant companion and source of strength. He even talks about feeling the presence of the wind around him and the power of the past behind him. The lyrics suggest that he draws on the knowledge and traditions of his people to fight for their rights.
The song is a powerful commentary on colonialism as a destructive force that threatens the survival of indigenous communities. It reminds us that the struggle for survival and identity is a constant one and a battle that is still being fought today in many parts of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Mojique sees his village from a nearby hill
Mojique gazes down at his village from a hill close by
Mojique thinks of days before Americans came
Mojique remembers the times before the arrival of Americans
He sees the foreigners in growing numbers
Mojique notices an increase in the number of outsiders living nearby
He sees the foreigners in fancy houses
Mojique observes the foreigners residing in magnificent houses
He thinks of days that he can still remember...now.
Mojique fondly recalls yesteryears that he can still vividly picture
Mojique holds a package in his quivering hands
Mojique nervously clutches a parcel in his hands
Mojique sends the package to the American man
Mojique delivers the bundle to the American recipient
Softly he glides along the streets and alleys
He moves noiselessly along the streets and lanes
Up comes the wind that makes them run for cover
The sudden gust of wind scares people to take shelter
He feels the time is surely now or never...more.
He senses that there is no time to lose, it's now or never
The wind in my heart
The metaphorical feeling inside me gives me strength
The wind in my heart
The metaphorical feeling inside me motivates me
The dust in my head
The chaos in my mind
The dust in my head
The confusion in my thoughts
The wind in my heart
The metaphorical feeling inside me gives me determination
(Come to)
Drive them away
Drive them away.
The artist implores the wind to drive away the outsiders.
Mojique buys equipment in the market place
Mojique purchases tools from the local market
Mojique plants devices in the free trade zone
Mojique establishes machinery in the open market area
He feels the wind is lifting up his people
He senses the wind is empowering his tribe
He calls the wind to guide him on his mission
He summons the wind to assist him in his quest
He knows his friend the wind is always standing...by.
He is confident that the wind, his ally, will always be there for him
Mojique smells the wind that comes from far away
Mojique detects a far-off wind's scent
Mojique waits for news in a quiet place
Mojique awaits the news in a tranquil spot
He feels the presence of the wind around him
He senses the wind's aura around him
He feels the power of the past behind him
He perceives the strength of the past that shelters him
He has the knowledge of the wind to guide him...on.
He seeks the wind's wisdom and guidance to move forward
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID BYRNE, CHRIS FRANTZ, TINA WEYMOUTH, JERRY HARRISON, BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Acholi Princess
on Land Of Anaka
The Lyrics are Real !
Art is spiritual insight from the spiritual realm by those who are Talented!
The land of Anaka was a place of Darkness! Death! Despair! Even the Dead did not die! They wandered spiritually within the land!
He is asking Obiga to show him the way in this Darkness!
Rest In peace Ladin!
Acholi Princess
on Kel Kweyo
Great Great Master of the Spiritual Music of Acholi
Acholi Princess
on See Me Lakayana
Spiritual Sounds!
Spiritual Art!
Spiritual feels!
Rest in Peace!